ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. pit — a hole
  6. face — to confront
  7. rush — hurry
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. mug — to rob
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. bore — to drill
  12. mug — a cup
  13. face — part of the head
  14. face — to point toward
  15. shower — rain
  16. board — a committee
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. board — to get on
  20. mug — a face
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. shower — to wash
  24. pit — in a race

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com